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This article was co-authored by Ashley Adams. Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

How to Lighten Your Hair Naturally

The glowing shades of gold and copper that your hair takes on in the summer are something many of us want to keep year-round. If the thought of dyeing your hair with chemicals to maintain this color change makes you squeamish, though, try going natural. There are many natural methods of lightening your hair, to shades of either blonde or red.

Head outdoors. There’s a reason everyone is golden and glowing in the summer; the sun! The sun has a natural bleaching effect on hair in addition to tanning your skin. Wait for a sunny day, and then leave your hair down for the sun to work its magic on. Just remember to wear sunscreen so you don’t get burnt in the process.

Go for a swim. Because time in the sun and swimming outdoors often go hand in hand, it’s hard to differentiate the hair bleaching done by each process. However, sun is not the only process at work; the salt and chlorine in the ocean and pools works to lift the color of your hair (the former naturally). Go for a dive into a nearby bay, and your strands will be lighter in no time.

If your hair is dyed, the chlorine in swimming pools may cause the color to fade.

Wash with vinegar. The recent trend of ‘no-poo’ or washing your hair without shampoo has led people to the discovery that vinegar works to lighten hair. When you hop in the shower, rinse through your hair with apple cider vinegar. Doing this on a regular basis may slowly lighten your hair over time, although this method works better on some people than others.

Use some baking soda. Similar to vinegar, baking soda is a ‘no-poo’ alternative to chemical-filled shampoos that also lightens hair color. When you go to shower, sprinkle your hair with baking soda and give it a good rub-down. The paste that develops should bleach your hair naturally.

Give your hair a honey mask. Want honey-hued hair? Use the real stuff to make a mask. Mix honey with a bit of distilled water and stick it to your hair. Allow it to soak for 30 minutes or more. When mixed with the distilled water the honey undergoes a chemical process that helps to lighten your hair super fast. For a double bonus, head out in the sun while your hair is soaking.[1]

Wash your hair well with shampoo after doing this treatment. There should be no honey left in your hair afterwards.

Use vitamin C. Not only a daily health requirement, vitamin C can bring out lighter hues in your locks as well. Get your hands on a bottle of vitamin C tablets, but use it for your hair rather than your consumption. Crush up 5-10 (depending on the length and thickness of your hair) and add the powder to your shampoo. Washing with this concoction will give your hair a dose of bleaching nutrients.

Try hydrogen peroxide. Although not the most natural of dying techniques, hydrogen peroxide is a way for you to lighten your hair at home without using several products. Rinse your hair with hydrogen peroxide, leaving it to set for about 10-15 minutes before a second rinse with water. Test this method on a small section of hair first to make sure you’re happy with the color it will change to.

Hydrogen peroxide can dry out your hair. To prevent any damage, do a deep conditioning mask on your hair after finishing this treatment.

Brew up some black tea. Useful on many beauty quests, black tea is full of tannic acid which can bring out highlights in your hair over time. Brew a few cups of very strong black tea (using several tablespoons/teabags) and pour it through your hair. Let it soak for up to 30 minutes before rinsing out with warm water.[2]

Spray on some lemon juice. Used by women for hundreds of years in an effort to get vibrant bleached locks, lemon juice is one of the oldest and most effective natural lightening techniques. Pour lemon juice into a spray bottle and coat your strands completely. Let it dry for about 20 minutes before rinsing out again.

Lemon juice can dry out your hair when used often, so mix it with a bit of oil to keep your hair soft. Afterwards, do a deep conditioning treatment on your hair.

Brew a cup of coffee. If you have brown hair, make a pot of extra-strong coffee. Let it cool completely, putting it in the fridge if necessary. Pour the cold coffee into a spray bottle, and spritz it all over your hair. Sit in the sun for about half an hour. This won’t lighten your overall color, but it will brighten your natural highlights.

Make some chamomile tea. The naturally light coloring of chamomile and the natural chemicals of the blooms combine to bring out blonde undertones in hair. Steep 1-2 teabags per 100 milliliters (3.4 fl oz) boiling water. When the tea is completely cool, spray it on your hair, comb it through, and sit in the sun for about 30 minutes to bring out natural highlights.

Use dried marigolds. Similar to chamomile flowers, marigolds can give the golden highlights you’ve always dreamed of. Put 1 cup of water, 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, and some dried marigold flowers in a pot and bring it to a boil. Strain out the flowers and let the liquid cool completely. Put it into a spray bottle, spritz it on dry hair, massage it into the scalp, and let the hair air-dry.

Try rhubarb. Boil some rhubarb root, let the liquid cool completely, and test it on an inconspicuous lock before applying it to your whole head. Rhubarb adds a yellow tint, so if your hair is already very light, it could end up darker.

Brew a berry tea. There’s a reason three different teas have been included on this list - they work! If you want to bring out red highlights in your hair, use a naturally red tea and let your hair soak. Find a berry or fruit tea that is red when brewed, such as raspberry, blackberry, or pomegranate. Let several of these teabags steep in a few cups of water and then pour it through your hair. Let it soak in your hair for at least 30 minutes before rinsing out.

Try out beet juice. If you’ve ever cooked beets, you know how potent the staining ability of beet juice is. Bring out the natural red in your hair by letting some beet juice work its magic. Mix it with a bit of distilled water to dilute it, and the coat your strands with the concoction. Let it soak for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse out with warm water.

Make a cinnamon mask. Brewing up some hot cinnamon tea using real cinnamon is a great way to bring out the caramel undertones in your hair. Mix a few cinnamon sticks or 1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon with a few cups of water (more or less depending on the length and thickness of your hair). Coat your locks and let it soak for a while before rinsing out.

Dye your hair with henna. This trick is almost cheating, as henna is used primarily as a dye for hair and skin. Mix henna with water (or tea, for extra lightening powers!) to form a paste, and coat your hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave the henna on - the longer you wait (2 hr -8 hr), the more red your hair. Rinse out with water as per usual, and be amazed by your luscious ginger locks! If you have brown or black, you most likely will end up with a shade darker than your natural hair color, that is black or very black hair. Chemical dyes may not work as expected on hair which has been previously dyed with henna. Henna at best colors vibrantly grey hair, and may add a dark red hue in bright sunlight for dark colored hair. For African hair, henna might leave your hair feeling brittle. To alleviate this sensation do a hot oil treatment after henna coloring. [3]

Some people have noticed a change in their hair color after swimming in salt water. If this is a method that you would like to experiment with, add one part salt to five parts water. Let the mixture sit on your hair for at least fifteen minutes, and then rinse and shampoo as you normally would.

Everyone's hair reacts differently, so it would be best to perform a strand test first. That way, you'll be able to know exactly how long you need to let the peroxide sit to get the desired shade that you're looking for.

You are essentially dyeing/bleaching your hair naturally so the effects will be lasting. However, as with everything, it can become dull. So, once you have achieved something you are happy with, you can maintain it but conditioning your hair with a honey/coconut oil mix, which is much healthier for hair than store bought products, will keep your highlights bright and healthy.

To lighten your hair naturally, rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar while you’re in the shower. You can also sprinkle your hair with baking soda before you shower, give it a good scrub while you’re in there, and rinse it out. If you want to try using hydrogen peroxide to lighten your hair, rinse your hair with it, then let it set for 10-15 minutes before you rinse it out. Want to avoid using household products to lighten your hair? Just spend some time outside in the sun, which naturally bleaches your hair!

Reader Success Stories

HJ

Helen Jackson

Aug 2, 2017

"Informative article. Once dyed my hair red, gulp! It was horrendous. The vitamin C method worked brilliantly. After reading this article I now use extra virgin olive oil to keep my hair and scalp healthy ."..." more

HB

Haley Bosch

Oct 12, 2016

"Look at your hair first before you even think about lightening it or dyeing it. You might find your hair is pretty just the way it is."..." more

BM

Bronte McGlashan

Oct 2, 2016

"I've just read this, and I'm so glad that there are still natural ways of keeping red hair from fading."

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Anonymous

Apr 18, 2017

"The lemon juice really worked, and the black tea and berry teas were really helpful."